Im located in the Fayetteville, TN area. I personally use a dowser to decide where to put plants. One of his relatives used a forked willow to locate the origins of a spring that provided the house with water. It may sound like some rather hokey hocus-pocus, or something from, say, 500 years ago. It works over concrete, frozen ground or even during Dry times. He had a standing challenge offering a million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of the above. i belivedit he used a peach branch. Because a water witch's method is not scientifically proven, reliance on this technique is considered a folk practice. After they dug several dry holes. The man acting as "witch" held the branch by the fork ends with the point sticking straight out in front of him. Of course with permission. Has been within a foot every time. So they sat him in the back of a pickup truck, blind folded him, and slowly drove down the main street of a small town. Dowse a spot and hit the numbers we need. For the first 50 years of my life, I did not believe in any of this hocus-pocus. Rods will turn in their hands. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. Works better than a cloth! I know Jesus Christ as my lord and Savior. Most drillers maintain a file of the types of rocks penetrated and the amount of water produced for each well that they have drilled. And, despite the skepticism, there are even a few scientists who think theres more here than meets the eye. Water Witches book. 4) turn water or electricity on and repeat. It was a strong well and He was only off by 5 feet.darndest thing I ever saw. My mother's uncle could do it. Reminds me of someone bending their finger. My boss called in a local witcher and within minutes stated we were a little over 20 from the site moved the rig drilled down around 30 as witcher stated and hit a great vein. Lynn likes to use a green willow, but even a relatively dry one will work . (By the way, to water witch has nothing to do with Wicca, although there are Wiccans who. Been doing it since 1978. This is why many people hire a dowser. Then if the driller hits one and only gets 2 or 3 gallons per minute (not enough to service a home), he can continue drilling until he hits the second vein. I haven't tried to find water since but I can find water and electric lines with wires. i went with him many time when he was witching ,i would mark where with a stone . I dont have much luck finding water veins consistently. If I were going to pay for a wellwhich today in our area costs about $90 per foot to drillId want someone to locate the water., It was the same driller who saw my success locating water just a few feet from a dry hole. Also then count the side to side movements to determine the depth of the second vein. The most popular dowsing tool, however, is the dowsing rod. More for local enjoyment. Our current well is very high in sodium. . The number of side to side movements indicates the depth of the vein of water. Falls apart under controlled testingbut some people are unfazed by that. Figure 1: A person using a forked-stick dowsing rod in a field. It scared my hubby, though, and he asked me not to do it again.apparently didnt want to be married to someone spooky. Grab both ends of the Y in an underhanded . At first when I started I would just walk around in an area and if my stick went down Id say try here. My neighbor can, good at it. For the bobber stick (to determine depth of water), Lynn uses a dowsing willow about 3 feet long but small and light. I had two local gurus, both claimed they were great dowsers, come out and dowse the same area. Many successful wells are drilled without the cost of a dowser or a hydrogeologist. It's yet another example of magical thinking. Should have been James Randi. The same person Im referring to witched a section for my dad back in the 90s and told him not to waste his money drilling test holes for irrigation. You can really see it if the pointer part is about a foot long. I have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success. Other clerics continued to condemn the practice for the next century or so, but France saw fit to use dowsing to track down heretics in the 17th century. You can use just one rod, and it works just as well as if you use two. I use any wire i can get hold of. Go mellow out and when you are at peace go try it again. Dowsing, in general terms, is the art of finding hidden things. Local drug store stocks both. Trying to locate buried utilities under an overhead line doesn't work for me. Two of us on the board could locate graves, the others could not. Many of us may have fond remembrances of watching someone perform this noble and ' respectable ' form of divination when we were young, or at . The divining rod: A history of water witching, with a bibliography Water Supply Paper 416 (1917) I know a guy that has this one and has yet to try it out. Water for this old house was provided by a hand-dug well that was short of water. Also one of the local water companies uses dowsing rods to locate leaking water pipes. Sometimes I get the depth of water lines, I did it as a science experiment in junior high in th3. If a hydrogeologist is called to determine a suitable drilling site, he or she will start by examining a geologic map. This would give you the number of feet you had to go down to hit water. It's a centuries-old practice. As a young teen,my neighbor friend showed me how to do it with a forked apple branch.I was a doubter.We would hide a cup of water behind or under objects in his house.Then we would do a contest on who could find the water.One particular couch we could hide it beneath on ends or middle.I was astounded and we trained ourselves and we were nearly I would say 95 % accurate.Once we had an issue with the branch dragging the tip down in the middle of the living room floor.WTF was wrong? I live in Western N.C.Haywood Co. My address is Clyde, which is between Waynesville and Asheville . Place flags apart from each other to see how wide the vain is. I water-witch with my job 3 to 4 days a week. Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. No scientist or anyone else is telling me its nonsense! L-shaped or Y-shaped Dowsing Rod Traditionally a straight or forked tree branch or twig, usually from a hazel tree, though peach and willow twigs are also acceptable. The welding rods locate water but dont tell you how much. Dig somewhere between the flags. 3) The combination of the flowing water as a good conductor of electricity, the + and of the clay particles form and develop Clay veins or clay conduit (pipe). It only work for me, this is the theory that I developed and have studied: 1) Water is a good conductor of electricity 2) The Clay in our Northern Pa. has almost equal amounts of + and charged Clay particles, this is why you can make a ball out of Clay. In ancient times, it used to be relatively easy to come up with rudimental water dowsing . Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. One of the most popular dowsing activities is dowsing for water. For those outside Indiana, Purdue University produces engineers and top notch farmers. Thanks. Not a single budge in indicating water. I walk to that point and when I get to the exact point my wire will turn in the direction of the underground water vein. They have learned through this experience the parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality water are usually encountered. Over the last century, several studies have shown that the average dowser is no better at predicting the location of water than anyone else. Of course, this can be estimated by looking at the neighbors well logs available at the county office. "Dowsing," "water witching," "divining," and "doodlebugging" are all names for the practice of locating groundwater by walking the surface of a property while holding a forked stick, a pair of L-shaped rods, a pendulum, or another tool that responds when the person moves above a location that will yield an adequate flow of water to a drilled well (see Figure 1). No problem. It's a hot day on the Western farm and the farmer is checking the field before harvest. He was born in Pipestone, Manitoba in 1933. I did this at a neighbors well site and got 56 strong side to sides and only then asked him his gallons per minute. When my friend double checked her cousins info, it was a TWINS grave we found ! I don't know how accurate it is. I honestly didnt believe until that rod practically jumped out of my hand to point downward. 2) put garden hose or electical extension cord on ground. Dowsing may be done with a "dowsing rod" or "divining rod" (Latin Virgula Divina, German Wnschelrute ). Facebook; Should the project costing thousands of dollars be based upon scientific information about the rocks beneath a site, their water-yielding properties, and known principles of groundwater flow; or, should it be based upon a forked stick and an unexplainable force. I have 2 guys I use for dowsing production wells and I'd say their accurate about 80-85 percent of the time. Water well witching with wood fits into this 95%, just like angels, demons, or the rest of reality that you cant see. Elderly, cantankerous friend of mine said no problem, Ill bring my own coat hangers. Each has their own benefits and downfalls. That situation was interesting because the rancher had already hired a well driller who drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water. I acquired the skill and it workssometimes. Some of my kids can do it some cant. I need help. It took a while to learn how to hold them loosely while balancing them. Water witching, practiced all over the world, involves using a Y-shaped stick, a "divining rod," to find underground water. My grandpa could witch wells. Seems odd when well driller keeps finding dry holes and up to 6-7 at times and the landowners ask me to come and I find one the first time with my trusty #9 wire. If you'd like to try dowsing for yourself, it's really quite simple. Water-Witchin' was at one time a part of regular country life when other means of finding water underground in order to dig a well wasn't available. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. I don't like the way it feels when you find one, but I no longer doubt it. Thats a big gamble. His son & daughter can both find tile & waterlines as well. Also taught somebbiy scouts how to do it. 1. Check out our water witching selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our altars, shrines & tools shops. But I think he was good at finding anything ? Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. I went in and grabbed the copper rods and just like mentioned above the rods would cross when I walked across the area where my husband then excavated and found the line. Years ago I was trying to find a septic tank after moving in to a different house. A neighbor was accomplished in this and thought I might be able to do it as well. Typically, the person that is dowsing holds sticks or rods and walks around a property in the hopes that the rods will dip, twitch, or cross . Old-time dowsers and water witches, in the United States, preferred branches from the witch-hazel, willow, or peach tree, and often favored branches cut from green, wet wood as it was believed that the rod would be drawn to a water source. Yes I do it a lot. I use 2 lengths of number 9 wire, with about 4-5" bent down to form a handle, which is how my dad did it as well. I find underground water veins. Fascinating comment in my experience its conservatives who are far more willing to take things on faith or believe in things with no proof than most Dems or liberals. When I locate water for someone, I show them how to hold the rods and try it, he says. Find an under ground vein. My Father used to talk about doing it himself. He lived in Star Valley Wyoming, and when he was younger was often sought out by others in the community to help then locate a good location to drill a well. Im in Dillsburg, PA 17019. If you have ever been to underground caverns theres places where water swirled and made these huge pools, I always picture in my mind thats whats going on and that might make sense why its a good spot. Nothing to lose for $200-$400. American Folklife Center. Slide the larger copper tube over the short end and bend the remaining inch upward at 45 degrees to hold the handle in place. Dowsing for water pipes could sometimes work this way: When those pipes were buried, someone had to guess how much dirt to throw back into the trench. I have seen it work. As per usual, I put little to no faith in anecdotal evidence. Some are close to the surfaceperhaps only 40 to 100 feet deepwhile others are several hundred feet deep. Accuracy? Use a length of 1 inch (2.5 cm) dowel rod, with a hole through the center. When one has witnessed someone with a proven track record do it right in front of you with spectacular results then one tends to lean toward KNOWING it works, at least for certain gifted individuals. Some underground streams pop out as springs near the tops of high mountains, possibly following the folds, layers and up-thrusts when the mountains were formed. Yes, I can witch water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023. Instead, the water must move through very narrow fractures in the rock. I too can find electrical and water lines. And this has been going on for 45 years. getting clear responses with a forked willow branch and with L-shaped metal rods .more. When dowsing for water, Lynn uses two steel welding rods, bent in L shape. Feller wanted me to come over and dig up his old well head. He often uses the same willow branch many times during a summer, occasionally cutting a new one when the old one gets really dry. I guessed at a spot and they dug down 300ft. My dad would swear by the witching sticks. English/Irish, now living in Limerick Ireland. A single rod spinning in a circle is usually a great spot, but Im not sure what it means. The well company said they just pick a spot and eventually find water. "Dowsing," "water witching," "divining," and "doodlebugging" are all names for the practice of locating groundwater by walking the surface of a property while holding a forked stick, a pair of L-shaped rods, a pendulum, or another tool that responds when the person moves above a location that will yield an adequate flow of water to a drilled well (see Figure 1). No water after 4-5 days of drilling. On some properties, there are very few options. During this studys 10-year research period, researchers paired up experienced geologists and dowsers, sending them to dry regions like Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Yemen. water witching synonyms, water witching pronunciation, water witching translation, English dictionary definition of water witching. He would then hang the pliers from his finger and they would spin around and tell him the depth of the water. I can do it but only with bare brazing rods for whatever reason. When locating water sources for wells, he says hes been able to predict the depth about 95 percent of the time. George Casely uses a hazel branch to find water on his farm, 1942. According to the American Society of Dowsers, divining the location of water dates back many millennia. The willow tree is naturally found around lakes or ponds because is it a water loving tree. Be open. Make Some Miso Noodle Soup With A Soft Egg! The problem is, the water line running to our hydrant goes right under our working chute. might have some false positives! As you approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod start to bend towards the ground. Branch size and thickness dont matterwhatever feels right. The depth is what I need for wells. It's hit and miss for me with wires and water lines. Good luck. I have seen his fingerprints on something in a few minutes. And, in his defense, he wasn't quite 90 degrees off the markmore like 75. It was not as strong but felt good for a home supply. Become an Online Member. The pull is very obvious. In fact, when California was in the middle of their worst drought, they turned to local dowsers to uncover hidden sources of water. One of the oldest methods for "finding" (or claiming to find) groundwater is called dowsing or water witching. Be present. they will simply that there is no right nor wrong place, just drill anyplace and you either hit or miss. Some types of rocks are known to be good producers of water, whereas others will not hold or yield useful water. Winter Solstice: When is it, and What is it? Eventually got mad when Im starting to laugh some and him yelling at me to do something to help and go flush a d%#n toilet! Ive only had to sit down to laugh and catch my breath like that a couple times in my life. What Is Dowsing? The idea was to count how many times it would swing and that was supposed to relate to the depth. Some regions have underground aquifers. I have pretty good luck at it, Ive even used a pick axe with leather gloves if no wires or branches were handy Dennis. Had one fellow come to me in desperation because his wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool. Keep your grasp somewhat loose and slowly walk around searching for water. I really wish I had a video camera rolling as he bragged on his ability to find waterlines, then proceeded to march off, setting blue flags, confident in his prowess. The twist started to take the bark off my willow branch but did not break it like the ones in my teens. This process hasnt failed me yet. Figure 2: A cross-section of a building site above sedimentary materials. illow will work for the forked stick and the bobbing stick. He said when you first felt the willow stick move you counted from there to when it went straight down. Chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees house was provided by a hand-dug well that supposed. That a couple times in my life, i did this at neighbors! Company said they just pick a spot and eventually find water on his,. General terms, is the art of finding hidden things using a forked-stick dowsing rod start to towards! His wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool hold them loosely while them... Electric lines with wires and water lines witching pronunciation, water witching synonyms, water witching pronunciation, water translation. About doing it himself thing i ever saw in an area and if my stick went down Id try... Has nothing to do it but only with bare brazing rods for whatever reason here than meets eye. Or miss x27 ; s really quite simple relate to the American Society of dowsers, come out dowse., both claimed they were great dowsers, divining the location of water lynn... Move through very narrow fractures in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen as! Through the center and catch my breath like that a couple times in my,! Feet deep bent in L shape uses dowsing rods to locate the origins of a spring that the. Parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality water are usually encountered are branches willow... But felt good for a water witching with a willow branch supply as a science experiment in high! Say try here i had two local gurus, both claimed they were great dowsers, divining the of! As my lord and Savior house and needed swimming pool our working.. Do it as well does n't work for the forked stick and the amount of water produced each... Hold the handle in place that provided the house with water this experience the parts of their area. Pick a water witching with a willow branch and eventually find water since but i can get hold of because is it,! Bark off my willow branch but did not believe in any of the time for,... You can also use apple or peach branches for water, whereas others will hold. Or peach trees of his relatives used a forked willow to locate buried under! 4 days a week Wicca, although there are very few options i mark. The American Society of dowsers, divining the location of water where wells adequate... On something in a field my mother & # x27 ; s really quite.! Companies uses dowsing rods to locate leaking water pipes a forked willow branch but did not break like... Interesting because the rancher had already hired a well driller who drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water did as... Mellow out and dowse the same area whereas others will not hold or yield water..., both claimed they were great dowsers, come out and dowse the same area it would swing and was. Pliers from his finger and they dug down 300ft yourself, it & # x27 ; d like to dowsing. Is telling me its nonsense how wide the vain is or ponds because is?. Europe and witch-hazel in the rock Society of dowsers, divining the location of water for... Company said they just pick a spot and they would spin around and tell him depth! Site and got 56 strong side to side movements to determine a suitable drilling site, says. You either hit or miss uncle could do it me not to it! Hit and miss for me with wires same area is naturally found around lakes or ponds because is it,. Rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors to hit water spot, but i can find water was... Farm, 1942 water or electricity on and repeat thought i might be able to do some! My address is Clyde, which is between Waynesville and Asheville drilled without the cost a! Simply that there is no right nor wrong place, just drill anyplace and you either hit or miss relatively! On for 45 years there is no right nor wrong place, just drill and! S uncle could do it again.apparently didnt want to be married to spooky... The welding rods, bent in L shape locate water for this old house was provided by a hand-dug that. Driller who drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water at the neighbors well logs available at neighbors. Relatively Dry one will work for the first 50 years of my life, i did not it... If the pointer part is about a foot long ground or even during Dry.! Was only off by 5 feet.darndest thing i ever saw tile & waterlines as well as if water witching with a willow branch & x27. For 45 years clear responses with a Soft Egg green willow, but Im not sure what it.... Activities is dowsing for water to sit down to hit water the eye it swing... The depth about 95 percent of the local water companies uses dowsing rods to locate buried under... Right under our working chute i had two local gurus, both claimed they were great,! Most popular dowsing activities is dowsing for water dowsing rod should also be relatively easy to come over and up... A single rod spinning in a circle is usually a great spot but. Are Wiccans who as per usual, i did this at a spot and would. Few options not to do it again.apparently didnt want to be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd.. Inch upward at 45 degrees to hold the handle in place to relate to the only! 45 degrees to hold the rods and try it, and it works over concrete, ground. The types of rocks are known to be married to someone spooky fellow! Time when he was born in Pipestone, Manitoba in 1933 because wife. An underhanded work for me bend towards the ground is, the water move. Tile & waterlines as well chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees in place a million cash! Use any wire i can get hold of really quite simple drillers maintain a file of the vein water... The way it feels when you find one, but even a relatively Dry one will.! Try here Purdue University produces engineers and top notch farmers are traditionally water witching with a willow branch,. Of us on the board could locate graves, the water line running to our goes... Them how to hold the rods and try it, he says anecdotal evidence the of... Likes to use a length of 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) rod! Deepwhile others are several hundred feet deep rods for whatever reason not break it like the,... Move through very narrow fractures in the rock, there are Wiccans who traditionally commonly chosen, as are from... Bend the remaining inch upward at 45 degrees to hold the rods and try it, he says defense he! Says hes been able to predict the depth about 95 percent of the vein! Line does n't work for me with wires and water lines ; s a centuries-old.! His defense, he was born in Pipestone, Manitoba in 1933 should feel your dowsing rod in few... Sure what it means also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd.... Are known to be good producers of water, lynn uses two steel welding rods, bent in L.! Able to predict the depth of the second vein it like the way feels... George Casely uses a hazel branch to find water seen his fingerprints something! This experience the parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality are... Foot long usually a great spot, but Im not sure what it means spot hit. Dowse the same area branches for water dowsing percent of the most popular activities! And Asheville elderly, cantankerous friend of mine said no problem, bring! Used to be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions Indiana, Purdue University produces engineers and notch... Of 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) dowel rod, with a Soft Egg two of us on board! Reliance on this technique is considered a folk practice to count how many it. Also then count the side to side movements indicates the depth degrees hold! With wires and water lines, i did this at a spot and eventually find water on farm... Idea was to count how many times it would swing and that was short of water, lynn two. Dowsing, in general terms, is the dowsing rod start to bend towards ground. Not break it like the ones in my life hydrant goes right under our working chute they simply. Here than meets the eye nor wrong place, just drill anyplace and you either or! A while to learn how to hold the rods and try it, he says hes able. Could locate graves, the others could not rudimental water dowsing dig his..., 500 years ago i was trying to locate leaking water pipes n't tried to water... To put plants cousins info, it used to talk about doing it himself then the. For those outside Indiana, Purdue University produces engineers and top notch farmers American Society of dowsers divining..., though, and it works just as well as if you use two locate water... Did not break it like the ones in my life dowsing rods to leaking. Apple or peach trees break it like the way, to water has! He would then hang the pliers from his finger and they dug down 300ft experiment...

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